>> Tuesday, December 29, 2015

By Gina P.Dizon

SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE- This century-old clan who traces its sixth generation since great grandparents were born in the 1800s shall be holding a fun-run to raise funds for the completion of a school gym in the occasion of their second grand reunion here.

Ap-on Ganga ya’s Labanet (the grand children of Ganga and Labanet) shall be holding their second grand reunion on January 1-3 at St Mary’s School gym here. The clan members numbering nearly a thousand held their first grand reunion at the same venue January 2-4 last year.

Said sym is a venue for school and community activities including conferences and reunions.

The open SMS Gym is currently being constructed to be enclosed with bleachers and the necessary fixtures. The building of the school gym has been sourced from donations of SMS alumni and friends including memorial donations to AGL member Norman Longid who died 2014.

Also referred to as Four Sisters Fun Run from SMS to Kiltepan for the sunrise shall be held January 2 starting at 4 o’clock in the morning. Open to the public, registration fee is 300 pesos and comes with a t-shirt.

The dinner-jam raises funds for college assistance for AGL descendants.

Education is a treasured and prized achievement which AGL values.

AGL descendants- the late Bishop Eduardo Gaudan Longid and educator Alfredo Ganga Pacyaya-are two of the first four graduates of St Mary’s School in 1932.

Other AGL descendants followed suit who studied at St Mary’s School and gained their college education in tertiary schools in Baguio or Manila among them including three bishops- the late Bishop Robert Longid, Prime Bishop Edward Pacyaya Malecdan aside from Bishop Edward Longid the first Filipino Bishop in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

Prime Bishop Edward Malecdan a descendant from the Masinnay-Pacyaya lineage shall be delivering the homily during the church service scheduled at 8:30 in the morning of January 2.

AGL traces its current sixth generation from spouses Ganga and Labanet who begat 6 children in the late 1800s. Four remained to continue the clan generation-Bistanga, Kaluguidan, Kangkangan and Masinnay.

They cared and nurtured each other at very young ages, the youngest Masinnay at 8 months and the eldest Bistanga at pre adolescence when their parents died when they were infected by an epidemic which hit Sagada in the late 1800s.

The four sisters married their respective husbands and blessed with many children who in turn married and had children- Bistanga married to Longid, Kaluguidan to Abeya, Kangkangan to Ag-agwa and Masinnay to Pacyaya from Bontoc.

Ganga and Labanet's children and their children’s children continue to cherish their origins and let the clan flourish not only for themselves but for the community as well.

>> Tuesday, December 22, 2015

CALANASAN,
Apayao -- Two Army soldiers died while five others were injured when their
truck fell into a ravine here Tuesday after attending the burial of the “Father of Apayao” Elias K. Bulut
Sr.

Sgt. Alberto Agustin, 38, and a certain Pfc. Angeles were declared dead
on arrival at the Northern Cagayan Hospital in Barangay Namuac, Sanchez Mira
town in Cagayan.

Also injured was truck driver Sgt. Presco Zalun. The four others were
identified only as Capt. Dingle, Sgt. Belo, S/Sgt. Aguilar and Pfc. Valdez.

Apayao police director Senior Supt. Robert Gallardo said the victims,
who were members of the 502nd Army Brigade based in Echague, Isabela, were on
their way back to the barracks from the burial of Gov. Elias Bulut Sr.

Gallardo said the truck was traveling along the highway in Barangay
Naguilian when it figured in the accident.

He said the road was slippery due to rains brought by Typhoon Nona.

The troopers were part of folks who paid their respects to Bulut who was
laid to rest here in his hometown after he succumbed to a lingering illness
Dec. 5 at a hospital in Metro Manila.

The body of the 76-year-old Bulut was earlier laid at the St. Peter’s
Chapel in Commonwealth, Quezon City and brought home Dec7.

A public viewing was held at the Mawanana Mountain Resort and Convention
Center here of the Calansan mayor’s body in Santa Filomena until Dec 12 after
which the body was brought to Poblacion Dec 13.

His body was interred Dec 15 at Calanasan Memorial Park following vigil
at the municipal hall.

Bulut authored Republic Act 7878 which separated the province of Apayao
from the old Kalinga-Apayao province in 1995.

He was greatly responsible in shaping the future of Apayao and into what
is it today through his long years as the province’s kingpin.

He served as representative of the old Kalinga-Apayao and then the first
congressman of the province of Apayao.

He served as provincial governor in 2001 until 2010, and elected mayor
of Calanasan from 2010 to present.

His mission for Apayao was to widen the opportunities of Apayao
citizens and indigenous cultural communities in the areas of technology
acquisition, intensified agri-industrial production, grains pooling, livelihood
creation, and infrastructure building.

He authored Republic Act No. 8563 Converting the
Apayao Institute of Science and Technology and its Conner Extension High School
in the Municipality of Conner, into Apayao State College

Bulut’s son, Elias Jr., is the incumbent governor of Apayao
while daughter, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, is the lone district representative
of Apayao in Congress.

Netizens showed their grief with the demise of the Apayao leader with
several post on social media.

“The whole officialdom and workforce of the Provincial Government of
Apayao convey its heartfelt grief, sympathy and sincerest condolences to the
bereaved family and among us Iyapayaos for the demise of the one great man and
political leader of the Province of Apayao, Hon Elias K. Bulut, Sr. Pained we
are for his loss. His legacy as the "Father of Apayao," serve us our
inspiration to continue his dream and ours for our development for as he
believed. That "If we hold on together our dreams will never die,” in a
post by the Provincial Government of Apayao official facebook page.

“To the Greatest Iapayao ever, The Godfather of Apayao, the honorable
Congressman, Governor and Mayor Elias Bulut, Sr. may you rest in eternal peace,
Sir. Your footprints and legacy are manifested all over Apayao and beyond and
in our lives,” read a post in the ApayaoIpasindayawfacebook page. – With a
report from Redgie Melvic Cawis

CABANATUAN
CITY – The National Food Authority office in Nueva Ecija, which is
investigating the reported misclassification of 32,695 bags of palay, is
looking into other possible anomalies in the procurement deal, NFA Region 3
director Amadeo de Guzman said Wednesday.

Following this, the NFA in Central Luzon suspended the operation of its
mobile procurement teams in Nueva Ecija in the wake of the misclassification of
some 32,000 bags of palay.

“Misclassification is just a tip of the iceberg. Marami pang lalabasdiyan
(Many more anomalies will come out),” De Guzman said of what officials here
said of the graft scandal.

He said misdeclaration in the handling of the procured grains could have
possibly been committed.

“We will also look into that. That will be part of our investigation,”
he said.

Earlier, De Guzman said some agency officials and personnel could be
conspiring with some unscrupulous businessmen.

Two top NFA officials and 10 personnel were earlier relieved from their
posts for misclassifying 32,695 bags of palay.

De Guzman said instead of declaring the bags of palay wet, the NFA
personnel classified these as dry and clean.

With the misclassification, the personnel made it appear that the
procurement amounted to P27.8 million, when the actual cost was only P17.9
million.

Two NFA officials based in Nueva Ecija and five others were relieved
from their posts Dec. 3 in connection with the misclassification of 32,695 bags
of palay.

De Guzman identified the officials as George Roca and Daniel Valenzuela,
NFA provincial manager and assistant manager.

Earlier, five NFA personnel were relieved from their posts over the same
case.

De Guzman said he decided to relieve Roca and Valenzuela pending the
results of an investigation by a fact-finding team.

He said no case has been filed yet against the two officials.

De Guzman and NFA assistant regional director Marciano Alvarez took over
Roca’s and Valenzuela’s posts in concurrent capacities,
respectively.

The relief of the seven brought to 12 the total number of sacked NFA
personnel.

De Guzman said four others would be included in the investigation to
determine their involvement in the misclassification of stocks.

De Guzman said the relief of Roca and Valenzuela was ordered by Renan
Dalisay, who directed the security and investigation services department, the
internal audit services department and technical research and services
department to investigate the case.

De Guzman clarified that the 32,695 bags of palay were not
typhoon-damaged, as earlier reported.

“These palay bags were not typhoon-damaged but were misclassified,” he
said, noting instead of being declared as wet, the bags of palay were made to
appear as dry and clean.

De Guzman said the five teams have stopped operating and their tasks
were turned over to the stationary procurement teams.

“Because of the anomalies in the procurement, we deemed it best to
suspend the operations of our mobile teams,” he said.

De Guzman said each of the five mobile teams is capable of procuring up
to 1,000 bags of palay.

He clarified that the suspension applies only to Nueva Ecija, where the
anomaly was discovered.

“Palay procurement by our mobile teams continues in the provinces of
Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales,” he said.

The NFA is investigating the misclassification of 32,695 bags of palay
in the province.

The two agency officials and 10 personnel relieved for classifying the
bags of palay dry and clean, when it should have been listed as wet are now
being investigated by the agency’s four probe teams, including three from the
central office.

Initial investigation showed the procurement officers declared the cost
at P27.8 million, when the actual cost was only P17.9 million.

Investigation disclosed the victims entered the mine tunnel of a certain
Fred Segundo around 7 a.m.

Their co-worker named as Julio Palua noticed the two failed to come out
from the tunnel until 4 p.m. of same date that prompted him and his co-workers
to look for the two inside the tunnel.

The lifeless bodies of the victims were recovered around 150 meters deep
in the tunnel and were brought out at about 7 p.m.

Their bodies were brought to Benguet Corp. field office in Tuding around
12 midnight of Dec. 16.

At press time, the cadaver of Jordan Cortez was due to be transported by
his relatives to Paracelis, while that of was brought to the Cordillera Funeral
Homes for relatives from Isabela province to claim.

LINGAYEN,
Pangasinan – Environmental and cause-oriented groups assailed government
officials after the contractor widening the Manila North Road in this province
has cut all the trees it needed to remove to allow the government project to
proceed but spared 108 trees.

The groups said the total number of trees cut along the road was 1,721
“killed by Dept. of Public Works and Highways and their contractors with the
blessing of Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Ramon Paje and his
leadership team.”

“The DENR, DPWH, and other government officials who instigated and
authorized this massacre of these beautiful decades-old trees in Pangasinan and
other areas should be exposed and removed from their positions for violating
the affected communities’ right to a healthy environment and natural heritage,”
the groups said in a statement sent to the Northern Philippine Times.

Three days before expiration of an extended tree-cutting permit, workers
cleared 481 of 589 trees lining the MNR in the eastern part of Pangasinan, said
Narchito Arpilleda, district information officer of the Department of Public
Works and Highways.

Last week, the provincial board authorized Gov. Amado Espino Jr. to
pursue a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction
against the DPWH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to
spare trees along the highway.

The provincial government has joined a campaign waged in 2014 by
environmental groups to stop the national government from cutting the trees.
But in a text message on Monday, lawyer Geraldine Baniqued, Pangasinan legal
officer, said the provincial government did not proceed with the lawsuit
because all of the trees it intended to save had been cut.

The contractor first felled 1,721 of the 1,829 trees marked for cutting
along the 42-kilometer stretch of the MNR traversing the towns of Rosales,
Villasis, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison, and in Urdaneta City in November
2013.

The DPWH stopped clearing the remaining 770 trees when the agency’s
tree-cutting permit expired in February 2014.

But the surviving trees were girdled, enraging activists, residents and
Pangasinan officials. Girdling involves the stripping of a trunk’s bark,
disrupting the tree’s absorption of nutrients which would lead to its death.

The agency’s contractor resumed its tree-cutting activities on Nov. 23
when the DENR extended for 45 days the permit it issued to the agency in 2013.
The extended permit expires on Dec. 17.

“I was just informed by the project engineer today that they have only
one tree left to cut in Barangay Bugayong in Binalonan [town] today (Monday).
The remaining 108 trees will be spared… some of them will just be pruned,”
Arpilleda said by telephone.

He said the DPWH could complete its road-widening project before end of
this year, so the project’s fund would not be returned to the national coffers.

BAGUIO CITY
– A traffic plan has been mapped out for the expected influx of tourists in the
city for the Christmas and New Year break even as Mayor Mauricio Domogan this
week approved the suspension of the number coding scheme.

The mayor, in administrative order 172, mandated Baguio’s number coding
scheme is suspended from Dec. 21 to 31.

Domogan said while it is true that during long holidays the city
experiences worse traffic conditions, visitors should also be given the chance
to roam around tourist spots with their vehicles.

The suspension was anchored on city ordinance no. 1, section 6 as
amended by section 1 of ordinance no. 107, series of 2008 exempting private
motor vehicles and chartered public utilities of visitors, tourists and
vacationers.

This, as Domogan said the Traffic and Transportation Management
Committee set road contingency measures to address traffic problems experienced
last year.

The mayor said the Baguio City Police Office traffic division under
Supt. EvelioDegay coordinated with La Union and Pangasinan police for
collaboration in monitoring and regulating the flow of vehicles at Kennon Road,
Marcos Highway and other major entry points to the city.

The police offices agreed to closely coordinate with each other in
ensuring the smooth inflow and outflow of vehicles towards the access points to
the city by posting uniformed men and appropriate traffic signs in strategic
and chokepoints in areas leading to the city.

Groups will also be tapped to provide motorist assistance in cases of
mechanical trouble or road accidents to prevent further travel disruptions, the
mayor added.

Degay who presented the traffic plan before the city council earlier,
said they expect the “aggregation of vehicles and pedestrians to peak” from
Dec. 24-27 and from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3, 2016 causing moderate to heavy traffic and shortage of maneuver areas
and parking spaces.

Degay said police action will be anchored on the effective deployment of
policemen in traffic hotspots, intensified enforcement of traffic laws, posting
of additional traffic signs and implementation of traffic systems including
diversion or loop system and the control point concept.

Degay said they will also implement road clearing operations to remove
parked vehicles and other blockages and will adopt a tourist-oriented policing
strategy.

The pay-parking areas are the Ganza, Burnham Park, Old City library,
Baguio Convention Center, SM, Ang Dating Daan, Center Mall, Cooyeesan, Marbay,
University of Baguio, Abanao Square and the Baguio Cathedral and at the
Bonifacio, Mabini, Quezon elementary schools and at the Baguio City National
High School.

The truck ban will remain to be enforced from 7a.m. to 7 p.m. within the
CBD while the lifting of the number-coding scheme has been proposed from Dec.
21.

Degay said the city police will do their best to contain road situation
but the scheme does not guarantee traffic jams as they have no control over
volume of vehicles coming to the city.

“The exodus of tourists and vacationists into the city may cause heavy
traffic. It is best to leave your vehicles in the safety of your accommodation
then commute or walk and enjoy,” the police said. – With a report from Jho
Arranz

ITOGON,
Benguet – Police reported a case of hacking which transpired at about 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 7 here in Muyot, Gumatdang. The victim was identified as Venancio Campila Aluking,
32, miner, of Rizal, Kalinga, while the suspect was identified as Manuel
Corestino Wallang, 42, miner, local resident.

Investigation disclosed the victim was watching TV inside his shanty
when the suspect who was armed with a bolo suddenly entered through the window
and hacked the victim twice but the victim parried the attack. As a result, his
hands were injured and he was rushed to the Baguio General Hospital for medical
treatment. Responding police arrested the suspect.

Senior Supt. Donato O. Bacquian, deputy regional director for operations
said Scout training is one of the
toughest because it teaches every basic detail in Internal Security Operations
(ISO). It also sharpens one’s mind, and strengthens camaraderie. He added that
they will be trained to develop physical well-being and withstand pressure in
any situation.

MUNOZ CITY,
Nueva Ecija – Three members of a “salisi group” from Pangasinan were arrested
here Tuesday.

“The group ran away with the personal bag of a store owner by pretending
to buy goodies but the three were cornered by our alert policemen on duty,”
said Supt. Ponciano Zafra, this city’s police chief.

According to Mary Ann Casillan, owner of 50-D General Merchandise store,
“I have just opened the store when 4 women entered and simultaneously asked for
prices of the goods on display. While I was entertaining them, one them went
out and later on I discovered that my bag was taken.”

During the investigation, the three arrested salisi gang members refused
to give the name of their companion who took the bag but admitted to have done
similar thieving in other towns including in Tarlac province.

The three were charged of theft including their fourth companion who
remained at large. – Nelson Bolos

LAOAG CITY –
A Chinese participant in the International Cross Harbor Race in Pagudpud,
Ilocos Norte drowned during the event Dec. 11.

Tan Xian Guang, 55, a member of the Tianhe Swimming Association from
Guangdong, China, was found floating by the race marshals.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard and the police rescue team rushed
the victim to the Bangui District Hospital, where he was declared dead on
arrival.

Over 100 Chinese participated in the two-day event, which started in
Currimao town a day earlier.

The Cross Harbor Race is a physically demanding sports event, which
requires both tactical and technical approaches in order to win. Every year,
Chinese athletes look forward to the race to promote swimming as a sport for
all ages. – Ariel Paolo Tejada

Security guard survives electrocution in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY
– A security guard fixing a water hose at the roof of Good Taste Restaurant
here along Rajah Matanda St. was electrocuted Tuesday when he accidentally
touched a live wire.

A police report said the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. with the
victim identified as Ruel Tabaranza Napoles, 47 of Babay, Leyte.

The victim later said at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
where he was brought for treatment he became unconscious due to the electric
shock. Police said the incident resulted to power interruption that affected Barangay
T. Alonzo, New Lucban and some parts of Bonifacio Street.

Miner hacks fellow miner with bolo

ITOGON,
Benguet – A miner attacked another miner with a bolo which resulted to his
arrest. A police report said the incident happened around 6:45 p.m. Monday here
in Muyot, Gumatdang. The victim was identified as Venancio Campila Aluking,
32 of Rizal, Kalinga, while the suspect was named as Manuel
CorestinoWallang, 42, Muyot resident.

Investigation disclosed the victim was watching TV inside his shanty
when the suspect who was armed with a bolo suddenly entered through the window
and hacked the victim twice but the victim parried the attack. As a result, his
hands were wounded and he was rushed to the Baguio General Hospital for medical
treatment. Police with barangay watchers immediately pursued the suspect and
brought him to the local police office where he was jailed.

San Fernando mayor sets men against firecrackers

SAN FERNANDO
CITY, La Union — Mayor Pablo C. Ortega of this city has mobilized civil
security personnel, policemen, and firemen to strengthen security and
preventive measures against fires and accidents this season of celebration and
designated specific areas as exclusive firecracker zones. Ortega also began
yesterday the deployment of inspectors for the string implementation of laws on
the regulation and sale of firecrackers and fireworks. “We just want to ensure
the safety of residents here to avoid fire or any untoward incident caused by
firecrackers because there are some unscrupulous traders who sell anywhere.,”
he said. -- Erwin G. Beleo

P.4-M drugs seized

CAMP
QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — Operatives from local police units and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
conducted a three-day anti-narcotics sweep in this province, resulting in the
arrest of 44 suspects and confiscation of P462,432 worth of illegal drugs.
Apart from the drugs, 12 guns, assorted ammunition, and a hand grenade were
also seized in the so-called one-time, big-time police operation under “Oplan:
Lambat-Sibat.” -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Man plays with gun, shoots wife dead

BINALONAN,
Pangasinan – A woman was killed when the gun that her husband was playing with
went off at their home in this town on night of Dec. 13.

Police yesterday filed parricide charges against tricycle driver Jeffrey
Romero, 31, for killing his wife Merilyn, 27. Reports said Romero was under the
influence of liquor when he arrived at their home in Barangay Sta. Catalina.

The man reportedly took out a homemade .22 caliber pistol and played
Russian roulette. The man put the gun to his head and squeezed the trigger, but
it did not go off.

He reportedly aimed the gun to his wife’s head and pulled the trigger.

The gun went
off, killing the woman at the scene. Police arrested Romero and recovered the
gun used in the killing.

Merilyn’s
parents took custody of the couple’s two children. – Eva Visperas

Miner dies in Benguet tunnel

ITOGON,
Benguet – A miner was buried after he died of suffocation after he was trapped
in a tunnel here Dec. 12.

Cesar
Agustin Paler of Nueva Ecija got out of the tunnel along with his companion
Oliver Bunoten when he decided to return to get some ore samples.

Bunoten said he decided to follow Paler to the tunnel when he failed to
show up after several minutes.

He said he found Paler lying unconscious, prompting him to call for help
from their fellow miners.

Paler died
while being taken to a hospital in Baguio City.

Pangasinan cops’ guns sealed with tape

LINGAYEN,
Pangasinan – The muzzle of service firearms of police officers and personnel of
the Pangasinan police were sealed with tape following Wednesday’s flag-raising ceremony here.

The tape-sealing of the guns was led by Senior Supt. Rolie Saltat,
officer-in-charge of the provincial police in a ceremony held at the police
headquarters here.

The sealing of the lawmen’s firearms was meant to prevent indiscriminate
firing during the Christmas and New Year revelries.

Saltat told his men that no one among them is expected to fire a gun
without a valid reason. He said the guns should not be fired except during a
legitimate police operation and when the lives of the policemen are in danger.

He said police officers would regularly patrol areas frequented by
people and more officers would be deployed in churches, especially when dawn
masses start this week. – Cesar Ramirez

Lady cop gets medal of honor

CAMP
QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — Chief Supt.
Ericson T. Velasquez, Police Regional Office 1 director, conferred recently the
“MedalyangPapuri” (medal of honor) to a rookie policewoman, who helped a
pregnant woman safely give birth inside a bus last Nov. 22. Police Officer 1
PO1 Flores Banua-Diga, a nurse by profession, responded to the emergency inside
a Fariñas bus bound for Manila and aided Myrna Respicio in giving birth. PO1
Diga’s effort, which was captured on video and became viral in social media,
ensured the safety of both the mother and her newborn before being taken to the
Candon City Hospital. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

La Union capital steps up drive vs firecrackers

SAN FERNANDO
CITY, La Union – The city government has tightened security at the plaza where
a firecracker zone would be put up to prevent untoward incidents during the
holidays.

Mayor Pablo Ortega issued the order yesterday after leading the
tape-sealing of firearms of police officers to prevent them from engaging in
indiscriminate firing.

Personnel of
the city permits and licensing office were directed to strictly implement laws
regulating the sale of hazardous firecrackers such as super lolo and bawang.

“We want to ensure the safety of the people and avoid fires or any
untoward incidents that may be brought by firecrackers,” Ortega said.

City police chief Supt. Julius Suriben said police visibility has been
stepped up at the plaza to ensure immediate response to any untoward
incident. – Jun Elias

Slay of 7-year-old unsolved

CAMP
QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — She was last seen alive playing near their house in SitioRebba,
Barangay Pagsanaan Norte in Masingal town, this province, last Wednesday. But
after frantic search, it took three days before the decomposing body of
seven-year-old “Micha” was found just 50 meters away from her house. Probers,
who said she had been bludgeoned to death, only have a blood-stained bamboo
pole as a clue, so far, in solving the case. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Man wanted for

rape cornered

BAGUIO CITY
– A man wanted for rape was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday at Maharlika
Building here by cops from Buguias, Benguet and Baguio. The suspect was
identified as Marlon L. Onsat, 25 of Banawel, Tapno, Natonin Mountain
Province.

STO.
DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur — Two female cousins were stabbed to death inside their
house in SitioBagumbayan, Barangay Paras here night of Dec. 5. Police said
there are yet no suspects in the killing of Rowena Bugarin and her cousin,
Vanessa Bugarin, both 19. Witnesses said screams were heard from the house
around 9 p.m. and a relative of the victims rushed to the scene. But it was
already too late as the two lay lifeless with multiple stab wounds in their
bodies. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

A police report said the three individuals were jailed for also
committing various offenses.

Foreman locked in jail for ‘raping’ teacher

BAGUIO CITY
-- A foreman was arrested in his office at Prime Peak Subdivision, Purok 8,
Barangay Dontogan here Dec. 5 for allegedly raping a teacher inside the
victim’s house at Purok 8, Dontogan. Investigation revealed the suspect
identified as Martin Baldemor Jr., 38, of San Antonio, Naguilian, La Union
raped the victim after the suspect’s girlfriend left to buy food which was
requested by the suspect.

Man stabs high school student

KABAYAN,
Benguet – A certain Mates Sumakey Lasbacan, 28, of Abucot, Laddet here was
arrested in Poblacion night of Dec. 5 for allegedly stabbing a high school
student. Prior to his arrest, the suspect together with his other companions
attacked the victim while they were walking home with his friends but the
victim managed to flee with help of his friends.

Man stabbed during death

anniversary of relative

MANKAYAN,
Benguet – A man was seriously injured when he was stabbed Dec. 5 by a relative
here during death anniversary of a kin. The suspect was identified as Mayo
AgayaoKidkid, 47, farmer, here of Mabileg,Tabio was arrested within the day.
Investigation revealed that the suspect and the victim were having a drinking
spree when misunderstanding erupted which resulted to a heated argument prompting
the victim to leave the suspect who chased and stabbed his abdomen. The
victim was rushed to the Lepanto Hospital but later transferred to Luis Hora
Hospital in Bauko, Mountain Province for further treatment.

Suspect lands in jail for getting drunk man’s wallet

Theft
suspect identified as Jerald Pagaspas Tayan, 27, a resident of k.m. 5, La
Trinidad, Benguet was sent to jail after victimizing an intoxicated farmer
napping at the jitney terminal in the early morning of December 7, 2015. Police
stated that the suspect took advantage of the intoxicated victim lying in a
chair and took his wallet but patrolling policemen saw the suspect that led to
his arrest and the recovery of the wallet.

‘Akyat bahay’ man slain in shootout

CAMP JULIAN
OLIVAS, Pampanga — An alleged member of the notorious “AkyatBahay Gang” of
robbers operating in Nueva Ecija was killed by police in a shootout in Barangay
San Nicolas, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, before dawn Dec. 5. Police tried to accost two men riding in
tandem on a motorcycle in Barangay San Nicolas at 3:15 a.m., but one of them
shot at police. When police returned fire, they shot and killed the back-rider,
Louie Garcia, of Purok Riles, Barangay San Vicente also in Gapan City. The
other suspect got away. Garcia, it turned out, is wanted for a series of
robbery cases in the province. -- Franco G. Regala

“The distribution of patrol jeeps speaks well of the goal of the DILG
(Department of the Interior and Local Government) and PNP to increase its
capability in running after criminals ...and assisting our people in disaster
response operations,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said.

The mayors or representatives of the towns of Anao, Bamban, Camiling,
Capas, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada, Paniqui, Pura, Ramos, San
Clemente, San Jose, San Manuel, Santa Ignacia and Victoria received the
vehicles. – RicSapnu

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – An police officer who
led the daring robbery at Save More supermarket in San Ildefonso, Bulacan and
fled away with P600,000 was arrested Monday by a composite team from the
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Bulacan police in Malolos City.

Over in Mabalacat,
Pampanga, Lacadin also reported that the suspected leader of hired killers
linked to the deaths of several Korean nationals, has also been arrested
Tuesday in San Bernardino St., Villa Teodora, Dau, Mabalacat town.

Senior Supt. Benjamin
Silo Jr., CIDG regional chief, said PO3 Juan was cornered at around 6 p.m.
last week in his hideout after he was identified by witnesses as the one who
led the supermarket robbery.

Juan’s two cohorts,
Silo said, are now being tracked down by authorities.

Lacadin said that
Victor Rivera, a notorious gun for hire and responsible for the killing of a
number of Koreans and a number of Filipino civilians, was collared by a team
led by Senior Supt. Richard Caballero, head of Regional Public Safety
Battalion, during a raid.

In
the notice issued by Provincial Treasurer Cawed Gamonnac, real property
taxpayers are given the option to pay their tax in full or in
four equal installments without interest, provided, that payments
are made within the allowed period.

For
the first installment, payment of tax shall be made on or before March 31,
2016; second installment is on or before June 30, 2016; third installment is on
or before September 30, 2016; and fourth installment is on or before December
31, 2016.

Taxpayers
who fail to pay their taxes on or before the prescribed period of payment shall
be charged 2% interest of the amount of delinquent tax
for each month of delinquency until the tax has been fully paid, but not to
exceed 36 months.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A former mayor
of this city has been awarded the 1st Sonia R. Lorenzo Award by the
University of Sto. Tomas (UST) and Kaya Natin! Movement, a non-government organization promoting good
governance and ethical leadership.

The award seeks to
recognize women who have excelled in the field of leadership and good
governance.

Former mayor Mary Jane
Ortega was chosen by the panel of judges from among five finalists for her
barangay development strategy program, which aligned the villages’ goals with
the vision of this city.

“I was overwhelmed
when the judges picked me as the winner after our interview,” Ortega said on
Saturday. She received received a plaque and P50,000 cash.

The judges described
Ortega as an epitome of women empowerment, citing her participation in various
organizations promoting women’s rights.

The four other
finalists were Councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda of Baguio City and Arlene Jane
Alvarez-Reyes of Santiago City, and Mayors Janet de Leon-Mercado of Taytay,
Rizal and Evelyn Tang-Uy of Dipolog City.

Tabanda was recognized
for her advocacy on transformative leadership, Reyes for treating the civil
society as partners in governance, Mercado for the “I Love Taytay” employment
project and Tang-Uy for her servant leadership program.

Ortega, who served as
mayor from 1998 to 2007, is seeking to regain the post in next year’s
elections. – Jun Elias

Police are now probing 10 armed men, all
natives of La Union, who were arrested last week in the coastal and
remote Sitio Lusong, Barangay Biaan, Mariveles in Bataan whether they belonged
to a drug syndicate or land-grabbing gang that is financed by a wealthy
businessman.

Land-grabbing
“business” in Bataan, police said, is a
multi-million “monkey business” by unscrupulous individuals, some of whom are
not residents in the province, who were able to enrich themselves by reselling
government lands they forcibly and illegally occupied through armed
goons.

Sermonia said around
9:30 morning of Dec. 10, they conducted
buy-bust operation that initially resulted to the arrest of
two suspects- Anomin and Carreon.

Sermonia told newsmen,
before the arrest of the two, Carreon sensed the presence of other policemen
and instantly fled towards their hideout, prompting police to give chase.

Sermonia and
his men followed the suspect and swooped down on their hideout, a shanty, and
arrested Carreon inside.

The raiding team then
chanced upon a group of eight persons who were caught sniffing shabu inside the
shanty, and also arrested them.

Sermonia said the
operation resulted to confiscation of four guns, including an M16 rifle loaded
with 26 bullets, three Cal. 45 pistols with bullets, 17 spare bullets for
caliber 45 and one spent shell for carbine.

Also confiscated from
the suspects were seven sachets of shabu, four sachets of marijuana leaves and
several drug paraphernalia.

During their
presentation to newsmen, the suspects claimed that their boss are one Rodel and
Dumpit, a prominent name in La Union who, newsmen learned, owns a wide area of
lands in Bataan, most of which have been sold to unsuspecting bigtime buyers,
amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos.

Sermonia said 10 more
other armed men eluded arrest and are now the subject of manhunt by the police.

Prior to their arrest,
Sermonia said they received complaints from nearby residents about the
suspects’ activities such as using drug and threatening their neighbors in
their bid to show force inside their illegally-occupied lands.

JAEN, Nueva Ecija — The suspects in the
killing of retired police Supt. Lorenzo Paynor and his aide, DonatoTaar, last
week here in Barangay Imbunia have been identified, the Police Regional Office
3 disclosed Wednesday.

In Camp Olivas,
Pampanga, Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Central Luzon police director, however,
withheld the names of the suspects in the killing of the 58-year-old former
chief of police of Obando, Bulacan, and his 38-year-old security aide and
farmhand, pending the execution of sworn statements from witnesses.

The victims were
ambushed Dec. 10 in Jaen while on their way to Paynor’s farm. -- Mar T. Supnad